pickoff

1 of 2

noun

pick·​off ˈpik-ˌȯf How to pronounce pickoff (audio)
: a baseball play in which a base runner is picked off

pick off

2 of 2

verb

picked off; picking off; picks off

transitive verb

1
: to shoot or bring down especially one by one
2
: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw (as from the pitcher or catcher)
3
: intercept
picked off a pass

Examples of pickoff in a Sentence

Noun He made a pickoff throw to third base. Verb picked off more passes than any other player in the division
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Made all the worse, that final play by Miami was botched by a mistake that led to the pickoff. Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025 That proved critical when Abner Uribe made a wild pickoff attempt on Edman at first, allowing Freeman to trot home with a second run. Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
The Titans were driving again until Mountain View senior Jesika Hopkins picked off a pass and returned it 17 yards. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025 Ohtani eventually worked a five-pitch walk against Eric Lauer and was nearly picked off to end the game. Tim Britton, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pickoff

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1911, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pickoff was in 1810

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Pickoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickoff. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pick off

verb
1
: to shoot or bring down one by one or with a single shot
2
: to put out (a base runner who is off base) with a quick throw
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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